Jack Hart

Jack Benny Hart, 89, of Winchester, IN, passed away peacefully in his home on June 2, 2025.

Jack was born in Nora Springs, Iowa on March 2nd, 1936 to Thomas Oliver Hart and Minnie Pearl (Schilling) Hart, the youngest of four boys.

He graduated from Fulton High School, joined the U.S. Army, then attended University of Missouri, where he earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering later becoming certified as a biomedical mechanical engineer. Engineering truly defined his life. For his doctoral thesis he designed a "depulsator" which proved that having a continuous flow of blood (as opposed to a pulsating one) was sufficient for life. He also designed low cost van wheelchair lifts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, laminar airflow systems for operating rooms, coil winding devices for TVs, treehouses, and he was constantly tweaking the design of the Kolb FireFly ultralight airplane that he built and loved to fly.  

He enjoyed keeping cars running that were long overdue at the junkyard, in addition to gardening, raising bees, and making wine.  He took his family on endless road trips in Volkswagen vans across Europe, United States and Canada. Never afraid to travel in an old vehicle as he would just camp in a junkyard, drop the engine and rebuild it mid trip when necessary. He provided computer technical support for his wife and children, before it was even a thing as most of the world was still on typewriters.

He was a Professor and Assistant Dean at IUPUI for several years before joining RCA/Thomson Consumer Electronics managing their equipment development department. In retirement he became a historian recording the family history of the Harts and the Lees.  He served at his local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and on the Randolph County Airport Board of Directors where he spent many hours at the local library authoring the history of the airport. 

Jack was a generous, brilliant, but modest man often known for mentoring and advocating for others in a sometimes unfair world.

Jack was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather and is survived by his wife of 63 years A. Louise (Lee) Hart; children Garrett Hart and his wife Teressa of Missoula, MT and Elizabeth (Hart) Helms and her husband Rory of Winchester, IN; granddaughters Jena Hart of Missoula, MT and Riley Helms of Arlington, VA; brother Richard Hart of San Antonio, TX and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors on the 7th day, June 2025 from 3-5 pm at Walker Funeral Home, 248 E. South Street, Winchester, IN 47394, followed by a brief service at 5 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Missouri - College of Mechanical Engineering @ giving.missouri.edu or checks to University of Missouri - College of Mechanical Engineering, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211. 

Walker Funeral Home in Winchester, Indiana is entrusted with the arrangements.  Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerswinchester.com

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